Michael Jones
In the twenty-eighth episode of our ‘Inside the Archive’ series, we join Senior Partner of Foster + Partners, Michael Jones, who looks back to 1986 when he applied to join the “top three practices in Britain”. Though offered places with all three, Jones was drawn to Foster Associates as this firm displayed the design philosophy and aesthetic he admired and wished to learn more about.
Jones initially spent two years with the practice prior to taking his Masters degree. Though the office has radically expanded since he joined, Jones notes that the ethos has remained the same, and continues to be relevant today; a continual striving for excellence and the best result, while challenging preconceptions. The diverse and rich mix of people with the ability to drive and shape working practices, Jones comments, underpins the success of any creative business.
Working on Bloomberg’s European Headquarters in the City of London was for Jones “the opportunity of a lifetime”. Though permission existed for the new building to be twice its final height, sustained discussions between the architect and client focused on finding a lower-scale solution. Jones explains how this encourages people to feel they can walk through the building and thereby creates greater social interaction. Through responding to the particular demands of the client and location, Bloomberg is a good neighbour and supports a better environment for work.